United States: A Look at the History of Addiction Treatment

Today's post is a look at Addiction Treatment in the United States. In searching the Internet for the information, this Infograph came up with interesting information beginning in the 1700's and 1800's up until 2012.

For instance, the first Sober House came to be known in the 1800's. Today is about the history of addiction treatment in the United States. Most of the information is outdated and proved does not work. You cannot use 19th Century methods in the millennium. It has already proved a failure.



I believe it's time to rethink rehabilitation in this country which is now a billion dollar industry. It is time to revamp and upgrade to the millennium to treat this disease.

It's time for the pharma companies and physicians to work together and not repeat the past. Doctors look at pain as a symptom of an injury or illness when addiction has proven the opposite. The reason for the addiction is a symptom of the medication. This epidemic we have today goes above their heads and the reality of the failure is that they have no clue how to treat it.

The first is to start treating those suffering addiction problems like humans instead of second rate citizens.

It's time to start the road to treatment instead of handcuffs for addiction problems, simple possession of an addict since addiction is not against the law. Neither is overdose and I can't believe the numbers who were incarcerated for overdose. Help instead of Handcuffs.

Not every user who started using heroin had a mental illness, but my guess is by the time the user finds treatment they will be battling some form of mental illness.


Infograph from drug-rehab.org
© 2017 Gossip Girl

Addiction Is...

Today is the first day of the April Blogging Challenge. Are you excited? Today is the letter A. My posts throughout April will be about Addiction and Recovery. Today my post is called, Addiction is...

What is an addiction? Who can be affected?

Ask anyone going through addiction or those who love someone suffering from addiction and we will tell you, it is pure hell.

Many of us really do not understand what addiction is. In searching the Internet the search engines will come up with a lot of

Come Out In Support of The Detox Center

This pic is floating around Facebook

Local Resources Fighting This Heroin Epidemic Battle

If you are like so many in this area due to the stigma about Heroin, Opiates and addiction you often don't know where to turn to for help.

This was posted on a Facebook Page from Debbie Hill Gray who locally is helping addicts and their families find treatment and healing from this addiction. If you live in Martinsburg, Berkeley County, Jefferson County and Morgan County you will find many resources locally to help.

If you love someone with an addiction problem, please reach out to anyone listed in this. If you yourself are an addict and are trying to find help for yourself please reach out. Debbie's post had the following resources:

"One of our Charles Town Nar-anon family lost their son to his battle with addiction last night. God knows I see losses daily across FB, but this one hit me hard. My heart is hurting so badly for them. He was very much loved by many people, but most of all his mom.

Please keep them in your prayers.

I felt I should provide some resources for ANYONE struggling with this disease or anyone with a loved one struggling with the disease. Even if you think your loved one does NOT want help, I assure you they usually DO. They just don't want to discuss their addiction with their family members due to the guilt and shame they feel. There should be no shame in this disease, but they still feel it. Most of the time your child will speak to someone they don't know about their addiction much quicker and easier than with their family and friends. THEY WANT HELP!

There are lots of people in our area reaching out to help with addiction. Some are moms, some are friends, some are in county positions, but there are resources available. I am listing them here again. PLEASE REACH OUT TO ANY RESOURCE LISTED FOR HELP:

Help4wv.com is the Governor's hotline, setup to help with WV's overwhelming addiction epidemic. They will help find a detox and hopefully treatment afterwards, even if there is a few day to week long wait. They have access to ALL treatment centers in our state and are available 24/7. They will arrange travel to the facility in most cases.

You can use their Internet site help4wv.com or call 844-435-7498.

Tina Burkey Stride and Lisa Melcher started a non-profit called The Hope Dealer Project and can also find treatment for addiction. Tina also facilitates a Nar-Anon group in Martinsburg on Sunday's. Here is the link to their page:

The Hope Dealer Project


Justin W. Ponton has a sober living network in Huntington, WV. There are many people willing to transport individuals wanting to go there. He cannot take anyone needing medically detoxed from alcohol or benzo's due to the danger of detoxing from these to my knowledge, but can after the detox from these. Justin can confirm this for you. His website is:

The Newness of Life
His phone number is: 304-972-6601

Tim Payne and his wife, Emily (I believe) run the non-profit, Turning Point of the Eastern Panhandle. Their website is:
Turning Point of the Eastern Panhandle

Katrin O'Leary is Vice President of: Magnolia New Beginnings, a 501c3 based in MA. Katrin resides in Florida.
Her website is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/553591441439612

Barbie Thrower is the Director of CRC in Florida, a Licensed Level III Substance abuse treatment center. Long term- 6 months to a year.
Barbie says: We are fighting hard to end this epidemic and remove the stigma of addiction!! Call 321-632-5958 or visit our website Ctcbrevard.com for additional information . God bless all who are in this fight together!

Although it is currently on hold for a short time, I facilitate a Nar-Anon group in Charles Town. I will be updating the site when active again, which I hope is soon. Here is the group's FB page for updates:
https://www.facebook.com/HopeforTomorrowCharlesTownWVNarA…/…

I also have a FB page just to share and post educational information about addiction and provide support. Anyone can reach out to me for help there or add educational content. The link is:
https://www.facebook.com/DrugAlcoholAddictionRecoveryAndF…/…

There are several support groups I recommend:
Katrin O'Leary facilitates a group for Addiction support, Magnolia New Beginnings, closed FB support group. Search for the group and request to join.

Kathleen W facilitates Covered With Love, a group comprised of people all over the country, coming together to help one another and their children. Search for the group and request to join.

I believe Dave Roberts and/or Cindy Everts facilitates "The Group", which is the group nobody ever wants to join. It is a support group for parents and siblings who've lost their children/sibling. They have personal gatherings also. Search for The Group and request to join.

Locally, Laura Haynes facilitates the Berkeley County Heroin Epidemic FB page, where you can find informational posts and support. Her link is:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/553591441439612/

Dee Stotelmyer Pierce facilitates the FB page Bikers Against Heroin WV Chapter. They do fundraisers to help the addiction community and provide other resources. Her link is:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BAHwestva/

Cindy Koontz has a blog page and puts together community vigils along with James Boyd. I don't know the link to her blog.

Amanda Edwards and Casey Hershey facilitate a FB support page called Soberology. Search for it and request to join.

Kevin Knowles is the Berkeley County Resource Go-To, a very important resource. You can contact Kevin at 304-264-1923 or 304-676-7731

I've helped people on my own time for years, heavily for 18 months. I started after trying to find help for my son, with such a difficult time, I was on the phone forever with facilities trying to get him help and continually was told NO or ADD him to long waiting lists. Finally I found a company to help me. They did it all, including making his travel arrangements to California. Today Matthew is well, thank God! He's joined me in reaching out to help those struggling with addition.

We help with any resources including; help4wv.com, faith based programs, scholarships (when available), find an insurance broker to help them determine if eligible for a special enrollment for private health insurance, help them get into top, trustworthy treatment centers away from our area, talk to their family members -providing them resources such as, RENOVO Center and Nar-Anon, speak with their loved one struggling with addiction to convince them to get treatment-no matter how long it takes, provide travel to state facilities, help them find Suboxone Doctors, take them to the hospital, and simply just listen when needing to talk. We do whatever possible to help.
Recently, because of our outreach, we both had several job offers, which happens when you are doing outreach. After a long time and a lot of soul searching we accepted a "salary" position with the only company we trust to get people into trustworthy treatment centers. We refused to take money per person, such as body brokers do. We cannot and will NOT see someone struggling with addiction as a $ sign, so we simply help people find help, however that may be, including state, faith based, and scholarship programs. I assure you we are not getting rich, we are making a living as everyone does at their jobs. We are available anytime at all.

We work for Sober Services, run by an amazing man in recovery himself. He puts many resources back into communities and is starting a "Jail Initiative" to help those arrested for drug related crimes get treatment rather than jail. This is NOT an advertisement for his company, my son, or me. This is simply another resource just as those above.

Here is the link to the company website:
https://www.soberservices.org
He works with people all over the country. Matthew and I help with those in our area, but also any area in the country. Matthew Hammock can be reached at 304-886-8322, me at 304-820-5375.

Probably the most significant and new program available to our area is Melissa Swartz's (counselor) The RENOVO CENTER. Melissa was the only counselor in her office, but expanded her practice exponentially to help those struggling with addiction and their family members. She offers groups for family members on Tuesday evenings. She added case workers to help manage all phases of patient care. She added more counselors and has Suboxone/Vivatrol Doctors coming in November. She accepts Medicaid. I have referred many people to her, especially those who find inpatient treatment isn't something they can do or to help them in the interim until they can get into a treatment center.
I cannot say enough good about what Melissa has done for our community by expanding her practice.

Her website is:
The Renovo Center

https://www.facebook.com/The-Renovo-Center-LLC-1885343344…/…
Her office number is: 681-242-8819

I am certain there are more resources I haven't mentioned, so anyone with more, please post them.
PLEASE if you or a loved one needs help for addiction, reach out to any of these resources. We are losing too many lives over this epidemic!"

Many thanks to Debbie for her time in putting this list of resources together.

I wanted to add to this that there are several recovering from their addiction who have joined in this fight to help other addicts. One of those people is

Kyle Koontz

Click his name to go to his Facebook and message him on Facebook. If you are seeking help with your addiction, message Kyle.

Drug Treatment Access

One of the biggest problems right now in Berkeley County and Martinsburg West Virginia is that we have no treatment center right here.

Those of us who have been able to get our loved ones into treatment comes at the cost of families who have to send their loved ones hundreds of miles away. Our own son is five and a half

Mental Health and Drug Abuse

Personally this is what our son Kyle is dealing with- Dual Diagnosis. He was treated for depression several years ago. On July 10th we found him in really bad shape once again. He was talking about suicide once more.

An article written at Drug Abuse. com says,

Mental illness is common amongst a population suffering from substance abuse and addiction. The relationship is so strong that many people believe the drugs play a causative role in the development of the mental illness. In most instances, this is not the case. In the United States, approximately 8.9 million people have both a mental health and a substance abuse issue.

Read More>>>>>>>>>>>>> Mental Health and Drug Abuse

Newness of Life

To those needing help with addiction and treatment, please reach out to Justin Ponton at The Newness of Life in Huntington, West Virginia

Justin has a great program going on down in the sourthern part of the state. This is a treatment and recovery house. This is a long term program. Eight to ten months to graduate; more time if needed.

At first you may not feel like this is for you, but you'll be glad you went.

You can reach Justin any time day or night at 304-972-6601

The Newness of Life is located:

2210 9th Ave

Huntington, WV 25703

They're on Facebook @ Newness of Life

You can read the reviews at

The Newness of Life Reviews

That One Small Ray of HOPE We Had

For about a year now our town gave us a little promise, a spattering of HOPE with the purchase of a building for a proposed treatment center right here in our town to treat our local people of addiction.

On Friday, they all but wiped that HOPE away when the county removed the appeal against the City of Martinsburg off of the table. HOPE is now lost because their plan is now even more confusing.

Let me tell you my fight for this treatment center grew stronger and louder in April after listening to the cries of my grandchildren begging for us to please save their dads life. These two kids ages 9 and 11 are terrified that their dad is going to die. They know kids who have lost parents to this disease and these two kids are scared they will lose their dad.

I chose to take a stand and fight for this treatment center for my grandkids.

If I chose to do nothing and something happens to their dad I will forever until I leave this earth to have to accept when those two kids tell me, "but you did nothing." I stood up to do something!

It is like fighting a losing battle and in the end, should something happen to our son who will answer those questions of, why you did nothing?

And here we are Tuesday, June 28, 2016, and people in this town continue to overdose at a much higher rate now and people are still dying. People continue to lose their battle with their addiction.

I and others on this side of the disease saw a small glimmer of light at the announcement of a Recovery Resource Center however as the days go on I am learning that this won't be an actual recovery center. It will be a place to come and get the information and resources on treatment and addiction.

So, just what in the world is this resource center going to do?

Now, I don't know if they realize this, but we already have the information. We already have the resources.

I've been told that it will also be a meeting place. A meeting place?

In trying to understand just what this place will be I have asked a lot of questions.

Just what is going to be so special about it that hundreds and likely thousands of locals who are addicted will come?

Remember, they can build it but it doesn't mean they will come!

© 2016 Gossip Girl

The First Steps in Healing and Recovery For Martinsburg/Berkeley County WV

Yesterday evening we were invited to a sit down meeting with Councilman Kevin Knowles who has also been appointed as Berkeley County's Community Recovery Services Coordinator. He invited us to tell him about our son Kyle who has struggled with heroin and opiate addiction now for the past eleven years and to tell us his plans for the future of Martinsburg and Berkeley County as it relates to the heroin, opiate and drug problem we have here.

He shared with us his plans for his Recovery Resource Center and we got to visit the center which is still under construction and is

Out Patient Methadone Clinics Sucess or Not?

Typically called, Medicated Assisted Treatment. These are outpatient treatment options. Yes, we have one of those here in Martinsburg. I assume that some of those against the in-house treatment program that our petition is calling for have told me, "but we already have one." They mention the Martinsburg Institute. Some call it The Methadone Clinic. This is a detox process using medically assisted treatment.

The methadone clinic and program we have here are for outpatient treatment. It is very costly and it didn't work for our son. We don't know why other than it is very easy for them to get what they need on any street in this town.

Now I'm not saying it doesn't work for everyone. It is likely needed for those who may have just left a thirty-day in-house program.
Our son went there. My sister paid for his first months of treatment there. This was done on the promise that he would be clean enough to find employment and be able to pay his own weekly payment of which I believe was $20.

None of those expectations happened.

For a time I was giving him $20 because I believed that is what the money was being used for. Uh No!!! He had stopped going there several months prior. He was able to obtain the suboxone and methadone on any street corner in this town.

Honestly, we never saw any progress. I guess maybe he really wasn't ready to give up the demons of heroin and opiates yet. We don't know.

The methadone clinic became his lie to hopefully convince us. It was used to keep us off his back. As long as we believed the lie everything was great.

Eventually, the lies make a full circle and we learned he never stopped chasing the dragon.

For our son, this is why I know he needs inpatient treatment for 30 days or longer. This time if we get the chance we are also pushing him to get out of the State of West Virginia.
Is this a guarantee? Nope, we know that. He has proven that he cannot stay here away from those old friends and vices. Of course, the ultimate decision will be up to him.

After taking our Naloxone class with Dr. John Aldis I have had the opportunity to read some information on Vivitrol.

Naltrexone For Heroin and Opiate Addiction

I wonder why this isn't being studied more and used as a treatment option here in Berkeley County?

I am not putting down medically assisted treatment. I'm just saying it didn't work for our son.

Recovery Resource Center

A Recovery Resource Center Is Set To Open Here

in Berkeley County by late June

City Councilman Keven Knowles and BC Community Recovery Services Coordinator announced his plans. If there are no set backs as we've seen in the past this is a giant step for Martinsburg and Berkeley County leading the way to more treatment center options available right here.

Why Do We Need This Treatment Center Here?

When someone is having a heart attack or a stroke they are taken to the hospital, they are treated in the emergency room by a great set of doctors. Once they are stable they are then admitted into the hospital often in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital and treatment and tests are started. When you are sick or are having a medical emergency that is how it works right?

But...

If someone is addicted to heroin and they overdose first they are lucky if the treatment gets to them on time. There is still fight over the use of Narcan. Our local law enforcement who is often the first on the scene will not be carrying Narcan Let's say the ambulance gets there to save them because that is what often happens. Then, the addict is taken to the hospital. There they are observed and then discharged.

Why? They too are sick aren't they?
Why are they then discharged out of the hospital to go back to heroin and then take a risk of overdosing again and possibly dying?

The answer is a simple one...

Because there are no beds in the places where they need to go to get treated for the disease of addiction. There is a huge waiting list for those beds to the places they need to go to get treatment for the disease of addiction.

We desperately need those beds right here in Martinsburg/Berkeley County. We need the treatment right here in Martinsburg/Berkeley County to treat our own who are addicted to heroin and want to be free of addiction.

Petition For A Rehab Treatment Facility Here In Martinsburg, WV

We now have a petition to our Community Leaders here in Martinsburg and Berkeley County West Virginia to stop with the bureaucracy and red tape and to get this much-needed treatment center up and running...

Please help us by signing our petition and continue sharing this petition with everyone you know.

Berkeley County, WV, and Martinsburg, WV We Need A Drug Treatment Center in our Community!

Thank you for signing and for your support!

"We are in a heroin epidemic here in our community. We need the treatment facility that has been proposed at the site of 750 Baltimore St.in Martinsburg, WV. Berkeley County has reached the highest level of Drug Overdose daily in the State of West Virginia. We also have the highest Drug Overdose deaths in West Virginia. Those opposed who say "Not in my neighborhood. It's too close to churches. It's too close to the schools. My property values will drop."We've heard the excuses Not in your neighborhood? Look around you. It's in everyone's neighborhood. Too Close to churches? Inside the city limits, where do you think this activity is going on. Right in many of the church parking lots. When the churches here are putting up signs in their parking lots relating to this type of activity. It's around the churches already. Too close to Schools? Are you kidding me? It's already happening already in and around the schools here. Your property values will go down? Show us your statistics that say that.
Berkeley County Council you need to complete a feasibility study. Lack of this was the biggest objection from the City council members who voted against it.
Mayor of Martinsburg, City Council members, County Council Members- Wake up and look around you. In case you haven't realized this, the entire county of Berkeley (WV) and the City of Martinsburg (WV) is being consumed because of this heroin epidemic. We have lost way too many already to this epidemic already and will continue to lose many more because we need this treatment facility right here in Martinsburg.
Many of the heroin-addicted have children. Many, many children in this community have already lost their parents to this heroin epidemic already. Those children of the addicted are the future of our community.
Everyone is affected by this epidemic in some manner. If someone is having a heart attack and goes to the hospital- they will get treatment first and then a bed. When someone overdoses on heroin they are lucky if the treatment gets to them in time. If so, they are taken to the hospital, they are treated and released. Why? Because there are no beds available in the places they need to go for help. Why is that you may wonder? Because heroin has taken over most of the communities in West Virginia. There are no beds available.
We need this facility here in Martinsburg/Berkeley County so that our own local people will get the help and treatment needed for their addiction.
We are tired of hearing the excuses. We need to see the reality of this treatment center at 750 Baltimore St Martinsburg. Yesterday was too late. We need it today!
To our leaders here in Martinsburg, WV and Berkeley County WV: I just read a quote: "When something major happens in this country it isn't about those who suffer the greatest loss. It is about who profits most and who stands to lose the most money should the problem go away"
If that isn't it- then to prove us who are in favor of this treatment facility wrong. We in favor of this treatment facility at 750 Baltimore St are growing by many numbers. We refuse to be silenced any longer and we will not go away quietly."

© 2016 Gossip Girl

Turning Point of the Eastern Panhandle in WV

Another Facebook Page is for Turning Point of the Eastern Panhandle in WV. This is run by local residents of Martinsburg, WV- Tim and Emily Drewy

pic belongs to Turning Point of the Eastern Panhandle WV

"Providing confidential assistance for addicts to enroll them into a treatment program. We also offer means of support to more effectively maintain their sobriety. "

They are here to help families get their loved one into a treatment facility and also for anyone addicted. You can reach out to them. Their Facebook page is located @ Turning Point of the Eastern Panhandle WV

More Information For Turning Point: